Academic Regalia
Graduation regalia includes the cap and gown, as well as other distinguishing hoods, stoles and cords that denote traditions of academic achievement or involvement in a student organization. Only those who have achieved a University academic honor or have their regalia request approved are entitled to wear special regalia.
Student organizations or Institute-approved programs must seek approval to issue adornments to the academic regalia for their student members participants. All adornments (stoles, ribbons, sashes, etc.) must be approved by the Office of Academic Affairs at least 30 days prior to the graduation ceremony. Regalia request will be reviewed upon submissions of an Academic Regalia Adornment Approval Form.
University Issued Adornment
The University Medal is awarded to the undergraduate student (or students) graduating with the GPA of 4.0 or higher, provided that the student (or students) earn all A-level grades and more than 50 percent of the credits required for the degree has been earned at LSU A&M. In semesters where no student qualifies based on the above criteria, no medal will be awarded. Grade-point averages will be computed for (1) all work completed and (2) all work completed at LSU A&M with the lower of the two averages determining eligibility for the medal. Course grades that were excluded previously through the Grade Exclusion Policy will be included in determining the University Medalists. All grades will be used to determine medalists.
Information on eligibility can be found in the LSU Catalog.
Undergraduate degree candidates who will graduate with Latin Honors wear cords. Purple and gold cords are worn by degree candidates who graduate with Latin Honors. White cords are worn by undergraduate degree candidates who graduate with Upper Division Honors. Purple, gold, and white cords, or any combination of the three colors, are not authorized to be worn by any other graduates.
Summa Cum Laude | Magna Cum Laude | Cum Laude | Upper Division Honors |
---|---|---|---|
Degrees are awarded summa cum laude to students whose grade point averages is at least 3.90. Additional information on eligibility can be found in the LSU Catalog. Summa Cum Laude graduates wear a purple and a gold cord. |
Degrees are awarded magna cum laude to students whose grade point averages is at least 3.80. Additional information on eligibility can be found in the LSU Catalog. Magna Cum Laude graduates wear two gold cords. |
Degrees are awarded cum laude to students whose grade point averages is at least 3.70. Additional information on eligibility can be found in the LSU Catalog. Cum Laude graduates wear two purple cords. |
Upper Division Honors Distinction is an achievement within the Ogden Honors College curriculum. Information on eligibility can be found through the Ogden Honors College. Upper Division Honors graduates wear a white cord. |
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Undergraduate degree candidates graduating with College Honors wear the undergraduate hood. Hoods are not authorized to be worn by other undergraduate degree candidates. College Honors is the culmination of the Ogden Honors curriculum. Information on eligibility can be found through the Ogden Honors College.
Master’s degree candidates wear the traditional black gown with full-length square sleeves that have a crescent-shaped piece hanging from each sleeve. They also wear a master’s hood that is lined in purple and gold and is distinguished on the outside by the color of their degree program. The color of each hood by college and degree can be found below.
All Master of Science degrees awarded by the College of Agriculture wear a Maize colored hood.
Degree | Hood Color |
---|---|
Master of Architecture | Blue Violet |
Master of Art in Art History | White |
Master of Fine Arts | Brown |
Master of Landscape Architecture | Blue Violet |
Degree | Hood Color |
---|---|
Master of Accountancy | Drab |
Master of Business Administration | Drab |
Master of Science in Financial Economics | Drab |
Master of Science in Analytics | Drab |
Master of Public Administration | Peacock |
Master of Science in Finance | Drab |
All Master of Science degrees awarded by the College of the Coast and Environment wear a Gold colored hood.
All Master of Science degrees awarded by the College of Engineering wear an Orange colored hood.
Degree | Hood Color |
---|---|
Master of Arts - Education | Light Blue |
Master of Arts in Teaching | Light Blue |
Master of Education | Light Blue |
Master of Science - Athletic Training | Gold |
Master of Science - Kinesiology | Sage |
Master of Science - Leadership & Human Resource Development | Peacock |
Master of Social Work | Citron |
Master of Library Information Science | Lemon |
Master of Science - Sport Management | Gold |
Master of Science - Child and Family Studies | Gold |
Degree | Hood Color |
---|---|
Master of Art - Communication Science and Disorders | Silver |
Master of Art - Communication Studies | White |
Master of Fine Arts - Creative Writing | Brown |
Master of Art - Creative Writing | White |
Master of Art - Hispanic Studies | White |
Master of Art - French Studies | White |
Master of Art - Geography | White |
Master of Art - Anthropology | White |
Master of Art - History | White |
Master of Art - Liberal Arts | White |
Master of Art - Philosophy | White |
Master of Art - Political Science | White |
Master of Art - Psychology | White |
Master of Art - Sociology | White |
All Master of Mass Communication degrees awarded by the Manship School of Mass Communication wear a Crimson colored hood.
Degree | Hood Color |
---|---|
Master of Music | Pink |
Master of Fine Arts | Brown |
All Master of Science degrees awarded by the College of Science wear a Gold colored hood.
All Master of Science degrees awarded by the School of Veterinary Science wear a Gold colored hood.
Degree | Hood Color |
---|---|
Master of Art - Higher Education | Light Blue |
Master of Science - Analytics | Drab |
Master of Business Administration | Drab |
Master of Science - Civil Engineering | Orange |
Master of Science - Construction Management | Orange |
Master of Art - Education | Light Blue |
Master of Art - Educational Leadership | Light Blue |
Master of Science - Environmental Sciences | Gold |
Master of Science - Industrial Engineering | Orange |
Master of Science - Kinesiology | Sage |
Master of Science - Leadership & Human Resource Development | Peacock |
Master of Art - Liberal Arts | White |
Master of Library Information Science | Lemon |
Master of Public Administration | Peacock |
Master of Social Work | Citron |
Master of Science - Sport Management | Gold |
Doctoral candidates wear customized purple regalia with full rounded sleeves, velvet facings featuring the LSU seal, and purple bars on the sleeves. Doctoral candidates wear a six-pointed tam. Hoods are lined in purple and gold, and each degree is distinguished by different color trim. The trim color by degree is listed below.
Degree | Hood Color |
---|---|
Doctor of Philosophy | Blue |
Doctor of Design | White |
Doctor of Musical Arts | Pink |